Abstract
Interstitial osmolality is a key homeostatic variable that varies depending on the tissue microenvironment. Mammalian cells have effective mechanisms to cope with osmotic stress by engaging various adaptation responses. Hyperosmolality due to high dietary salt intake has been linked to pathological inflammatory conditions. Little is known about the mechanisms of sensing the hyperosmotic stress by the innate immune system. Here we report that caspase-1 is activated in macrophages under hypertonic conditions. Mice with high dietary salt intake display enhanced induction of Th17 response upon immunization, and this effect is abolished in caspase-1-deficient mice. Our findings identify an unknown function of the inflammasome as a sensor of hyperosmotic stress, which is crucial for the induction of inflammatory Th17 response.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
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Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
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Caspase 1 / metabolism
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Enzyme Activation
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Inflammasomes / metabolism*
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Inflammation / metabolism*
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Inflammation / pathology*
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Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
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Macrophages / metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mitochondria / metabolism
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Mitophagy
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
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Osmolar Concentration
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Osmotic Pressure
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Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
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Sodium Chloride, Dietary
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Th17 Cells / immunology
Substances
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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Calcium-Binding Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Inflammasomes
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Interleukin-1beta
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Ipaf protein, mouse
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
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Nlrp3 protein, mouse
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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Sodium Chloride, Dietary
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Caspase 1